LAGOS, NIGERIA — November 2025
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, has convicted and sentenced two men, Lamin Magaji Muhammad and Ibrahim Haruna Muhammad, for conspiracy, unlawful possession, and attempted sale of a gorilla, the same great ape known as Bili, who was rescued in 2023 through a joint operation called Operation Quinn led by the Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office (NSWO) along with the Focused Conservation team.
The ruling, issued in case marks a significant victory for Nigeria’s fight against wildlife trafficking and highlights the growing collaboration between national enforcement agencies and Focused Conservation to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
In August 2023, intelligence received by the Focused Conservation supported Customs team in Lagos pointed to an illegal wildlife deal underway in the Agege area. Officers quickly launched a controlled operation to verify the information. Upon arrival, the suspects were found attempting to sell a young female gorilla, later nicknamed Bili, believed to have been trafficked from Central Africa through illicit routes into Nigeria. The team intervened immediately, rescuing the distressed animal and arresting the two men. Bili’s condition at the time of recovery reflected the harsh reality of wildlife trafficking as she was malnourished, dehydrated, and kept in a small wooden crate. Following her seizure, Bili was transferred to the Pandrillus Drill Ranch, a secure wildlife rehabilitation facility under the care of authorities, where she received medical treatment and began the long process of recovery.
Following their arrest, Muhammad and Haruna were prosecuted by the Nigeria Customs Service under the supervision of prosecutors Smart Adeyemi and Michael Osong. The men faced a three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession, and selling of an endangered species, violations of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, 2016.
After a trial that began shortly after their arraignment, Justice Lewis-Allagoa ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Despite pleas for leniency by defense counsel, who argued that his clients were first-time offenders, the court imposed both prison and financial penalties. Each man was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, and fined totaling ₦1.5 million (approximately $1045 USD) per individual. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the rescued gorilla to the government of Nigeria.
The sentencing sends a strong message that wildlife crime will not go unpunished. The conviction not only delivers justice for Bili but also strengthens Nigeria’s growing record of successful prosecutions under its endangered species laws.
“Every case like this represents progress, not just for enforcement, but for awareness,” said Wim Brown, CEO of Focused Conservation. “Bili’s rescue and the resulting conviction show that when agencies coordinate and act decisively, traffickers can and will be held accountable.”
While Bili’s long-term future remains under review by the authorities and partner conservation organizations, his story stands as both a reminder and a warning: behind every seized animal is a powerful story of suffering, resilience, and the ongoing battle to protect Africa’s wildlife from exploitation.
